Special sanction to be sought for multi-level parking complex in Thiruvananthapuram

Areas which can be used for parking to be identified

The Thiruvananthapuram Corporation will submit a proposal to the State government seeking special sanction for the construction of a multi-storey parking facility at Thampanoor. As it has been assessed that such a building will not be in accordance with the Kerala Municipal Building Rules (KMBR), a decision in this regard will be taken at the next Council meeting, Mayor K. Chandrika told The Hindu.

“There is this serious issue of lack of space. Following complaints from shop owners in the Chala market area, we are considering to use the space within the Putharikanadam Maidan for parking purposes,” said the Mayor. “We need to conduct more studies and direct our engineer to find prospective areas at the heart of the city which can be used for parking,” she added.

Corporation works standing committee chairperson V.S. Padmakumar reiterated the need for further inspection.

“Regarding schools, only Attakulangara High School has figured in our plans, and the cooperation of the Department of Education is necessary for this,” he said.

To address the parking issues in the city, the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation has included a project with an outlay of Rs.1 crore in the 12th Five-Year Plan to construct parking complexes at Thampanoor and Palayam.

Thampanoor councillor R. Harikumar said that there was no definite dismissal of the parking complex project at Thampanoor.

“This is something that is of immediate need. I have spoken to Shashi Tharoor, MP, and Minister for Health V.S. Sivakumar and they have promised all help,” Mr. Harikumar said. The Corporation had entered into an agreement with Infrastructure Kerala Ltd (INKEL) for an extensive project at Palayam, including the revamp of the market, and construction of a shopping complex that includes parking space as well at the land owned by the civic body and the Trivandrum Development Authority (TRIDA), said Palayam councillor Palayam Rajan.

But the project had been delayed and meetings to review the project would be held towards the end of this year, he said.